President Muhammadu Buhari, who is currently airborne to Germany, has reacted to the release of 21 Chibok girls from Boko Haram captivity on Thursday, saying it was a welcome development.

The President wrote on his social media handle saying: “As I depart Abuja for Germany on an Official Visit, I welcome the release of 21 of our Chibok Girls, following successful negotiations.

“The Department of State Services (DSS) has briefed me on the matter, and will continue to provide updates.”

Buhari reiterated that “Cooperation on the security and humanitarian situation in the Northeast will form a significant part of my discussions with (German) Chancellor (Angela) Merkel.”

Earlier, media aide to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Laolu Akande, had revealed that the federal government is assembling a team of medical experts to provide support for the released Chibok girls on their arrival in Abuja.

Meanwhile, there are indications that the 21 Chibok school girls released on Thursday may have been swapped with four Boko Haram fighters as was demanded by the terrorist group.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that senior government officials who were briefed on the case confirmed that a swap indeed took place.

“… the girls were swapped for four Boko Haram insurgents. Names of the militants were not released,” the report read.

The exchange reportedly took place Wednesday night “when Nigerian military officials, alongside personnel of United Nations, Red Cross and National Emergency Management Agency, conveyed four Boko Haram militants by a chopper to Banki, a border town in Bama local government area of Borno State.”

The 21 released girls were then taken to the Maiduguri Air Force base at about 8.30a.m on Thursday, and immediately flown to Abuja at 9a.m.

The report quoted one of the sources as saying that “most of the girls had babies.”